Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c15.s7.26

v1.c15.s7.26

We may read along with the above description of the Hindu camp that of the Muhammadans as recorded by Firishtah. While dealing with the campaign of A.D. 1366, he says that Muhammad Shāh Bahmani I was compelled to take certain precautions. "As it was common for bands of thieves to steal into the camp at night, and murder and maim men and horses, he commanded the elephants taken from the Raja (of Vijayanagara) to be sent to Koolburga, desiring the officers to return all their baggage to that place, except what was absolutely necessary. The artillery was placed round the camp, connected by strong ropes and chains; and regular patroles went the rounds during the night".³ This insecurity which prevailed in the Muhammadan camp could also be observed so late as A.D. 1573. 'Ali Ādil Shāh after his victorious return from the battlefield of Rākshasa-Tangadi, tried to subdue one "Velap Rav", the ruler of Bankāpur. While the Sultan's army was besieging the fortress, the Hindu chieftain "prevailed on some chiefs to join his son; who acted with such vigour, that grain became scarce in the King's camp, which was molested every night by bands of robbers and assassins, who did much execution". The Hindu soldiers "entered the tents at night and stabbed the soldiers (of the Sultan), while sleeping, without mercy. Every night numbers were killed by them in this treacherous manner, and so great a dread and discontent prevailed among the troops, that they were near forcing the King (Ādil Shāh) to raise the siege. At length Moostufa Khan provided a remedy, both to ward off famine and to repel the nightly murderers. He detached the Bergy chiefs with six thousand horse against the enemy in the field, and stationed a chain of eight thousand foot round the camp every night".¹